Deep Purple

The band's original 60s line-up featured vocalist Rod Evans (evident on early tracks like Hush and Kentucky Woman), but it was only during the Ian Gillan/David Coverdale eras that Deep Purple reached the dizzy heights of stadium fame. Ritchie Blackmore meanwhile showed all air-guitarists why he is truly the king of riffs, with his work on Purple's two biggest hits, Smoke on the Water and Black Night.

In 1971 the hand of fate took them to Montreux at the same time as Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention, and their witnessing of the burning down of the Casino, immortalized in Smoke On The Water with Blackmore's famous riff, (heard in guitar shops and garages the world over), and Gillan's simple re-telling of events, elevated them and their record to legendary status

In September 1973, David Coverdale left his job as a menswear shop assistant in a small Yorkshire town to join Deep Purple as vocalist. All over the world, male 6th form students grew their hair long and got stoned for the very first time to the funereal organ music of Jon Lord and budding guitarists everywhere tried to emulate Blackmore in their bedrooms (oo-er missus!)

Deep Purple In Rock has been recognized as the first Hard Rock album ever and is undoubtedly one of those albums everybody seems to know - if not the music then at least the cover.

Young Ritchie B went on to further fame and fortune with his solo effort, Rainbow, while the others went on to enjoy mixed solo success, not to mention The Butterfly Ball (I said NOT to mention that!). At one time, Deep Purple were certified the "world's loudest band" by the Guinness Book Of Records.